Spring Valley to receive $600,000 OSLAD grant for ball diamond project

It didn’t take long for members of the Spring Valley City Council to learn the news its parks were going to receive $600,000.

Alderman Chris Affelt shared with his fellow officials as they entered the council chambers a report their city would receive an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant in that amount to help with the future construction of baseball and softball fields and other outbuildings north of John F. Kennedy School.

Spring Valley was one of four Bureau County communities to receive a portion of the $55.2 million in grants dispensed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and one of three to net that amount, along with the villages of Sheffield and Ohio.

The Princeton Park District also received a grant in the amount of $216,000.

“We’ve tried for many years and never received the OSLAD grants, so we’re super excited,” Mayor Melanie Malooley-Thompson said. “It’s something that’s been very needed, especially for our girls who have been playing their softball games in Dalzell. This is really good news for them and for the boys. Very exciting.”

The project, which will be located on the 5 acre plot of land near the junior high, was last discussed by the council in mid-August. It was expected initially to cost about $3.4 million, but was sent back to the drawing board because of the financial limitations put on the OSLAD grants.

It has been somewhat scaled back to fit into a lower amount, but now that the maximum amount of the grant awarded, plus the city’s match of $600,000, is affirmed, the plans can be further revised in detail.

Work on the effort will start as soon as possible, perhaps even next summer. That would make the fields ready for use in the summer of 2026.

Other local entities receiving this year’s OSLAD grants were Ottawa ($636,450), Mendota ($600,000) and Grand Ridge ($300,000).

Since being established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, a total of $640 million in OSLAD grants have been handed out for park and recreational development projects.

The council also learned that its involvement in the nonprofit Trees Forever urban forestry project still is under consideration. Tiskilwa naturalist Annie Nichols, it was reported, is gathering information for federal grants that would help supply trees and shrubs that occur naturally in this part of the country.

In other action, the council:

Heard a report from City Engineer Mike Richetta that a permit for the dredging of the lagoon at Barto Landing had expired was false, that it is actually viable until December of 2026. However, since Spring Valley has taken over ownership of the landing from Hall Township back in June, the name on the permit must be transferred to the city.

Approved donations of $250 to the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living Snowflake effort and $100 for Habitat for Humanity.